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USC Morning Buzz: Steve Sarkisian On NCAA Allegations

USC, Washington and the NCAA meet today with the high school assistant track coach that claims Huskies assistant Tosh Lupoi paid him $4,500. Full story here

Meanwhile, Steve Sarkisian spoke about whether he should be concerned about getting sactioned under the new NCAA rules that hold coaches accountable for staff violations.

“I don’t know if concerned is the right word,” Sarkisian said. “I know what I did on a daily basis and I know the environment I promoted there. If and/or when, I don’t know, that the NCAA wants to talk to me, I’ll feel confident in my ability to show factually the ability that I exhibited to promote that atmosphere.”

Sad to say but that isn’t a very strong statement of denial – I’d say after Mr. Haden et. al. get through w. Davis up in Seattle, Mr. Sarkisian is going to have to explain a lot more.

TrojanFan3.0

Sarks days might be numbered, could be gone before the new year. Plus, recruiting would fall off the table. One step forward, two steps back.

WEB_Dupree

One step forward, two steps back — is that how you do the Haden Shuffle?

TrojanFan3.0

LOL!….exactly!

Trogan Fan

And some people though O was a marble mouth! “I feel confident in my ability to show factually the ability that I exhibited…” LOL

Goatboy Kiffin

get used to it … Suckisian is about as bright as the color black. The guy is just a dummy

Fred Sampson

Lmao !!!

FightON

You and the trolls laughing about diction is rich.

Fred Sampson

Its not that serious….trust !! Nothing but opinions .

Sportsblab Jones

Um . . . fight on?

realtrojan

This isn’t good news at all. This guy hasn’t even coached one single game, but he’s already causing negativity against the program. Of course more time is needed for the truth to be revealed, but since USC football isn’t about an individual we might need to find another candidates in the worst case scenario.

TrojanFan3.0

This could not of happened at a worse time, right before National signing day. This might turn into another weak class, which could set the tone for seasons to come

B.Miller

Hearing it was Mora who leaked this to the LA times to use for negative recruiting.

gotroy22

Mora has spies on Sarkiffian’s coaching staff? He’s like Obama’s NSA!

TrojanFan3.0

Bucket, is that you?

gotroy22

Wisdom is that you?

jetman624

This is only an issue if Lupoi was stupid enough to write a check. Cash is cash and it could have come from anywhere,, which just means it becomes one man’s word against another.

gotroy22

It’s an issue because the whistleblower kept records.just like Lloyd Lake.

jetman624

Records of what? That he made deposits of a certain sum of money? This is all just finger pointing non-sense at this point in the investigation. A cash deposit does not establish a “who” or a “why”, whit out which the finger pointing is baseless.

gotroy22

Financial records corroborate his story. But there must be other evidence to get to the point of Sarkiffian being in trouble.

steveg

Perhaps Mr Haden needs to be taken to the woodshed and be made to understand he has to work a little harder at finding replacement coaches.

;kjb;pkjb;kjb

First of all lets just say that the odds of him being mis quoted here are high. However that doesn’t change the fact that if this isnt a black eye for Sarkisian and the university, it is certainly a fat lip withe chance to get a lot worse… The only thing that can make this whole again would be to find out through an admission that this guy lied and why he strated the rumor. Did anybody find this kind of strange that this was all through the throwing coach on the track team? Why not the matt cleaner from the wrestling team?

FightON

I just want to know: why now? Basham didn’t make it to UW via the roster but he’s listed as a 2013 grad, unless he’s showing up after December. Why tip off months later?

I wonder if Lupoi pulled a fast one: he told the track coach he would reimburse him for tutoring. The track coach pays for it and waits to get the money. Lupoi doesn’t pay up: either because it was a scam all along to get the kid up to speed or because the kid didn’t get up to speed and Lupoi dropped him.

Cheap seats

The Times article actually suggests that it was USC’s compliance office checking sources.

I don’t there’s anything that’s going to happen here. USC & Washington are already being proactive and kissing NCAA butt with the meeting today. Sark is saying the right things in the press.

FightON

Do we know if the source was the track coach himself? Some media outlets speculated that the track coach was the one who called the LA Times and USC, but this could all be wrong.

TrojanFan3.0

Can we get one of Wolf’s sources to confirm this!…haha!

FightON

Unfortunately, the janitor has the next two weeks off. What will Scott do?

TrojanFan3.0

Go back to running Kiffin over with the bus, his specialty!

TrojanFan3.0

There is always three sides to every story.

Fred Sampson

The only way USC will ever hire a decent Football Coach is if he walks.through their front door on his own , kinda like what Pete Carroll did . Because that Athletic Administration over there is pathetic when it comes to selecting and hiring winning coaches . The Men and Womens Basketball Teams have been horrible for years and the Baseball Team has not qualified for the playoffs in 10 years .

FMUSC81

Right…. like Steve The APOLOGIST RAPIST Alfford ???? ….keep up the good hires on that one…”I was just following orders!”

Fred Sampson

You doont realize im all for the USC Trojans ….do you ? I was just stating FACTS !!! The Athletic Department needs to get it together .

snarfy

Keep it up Wolf. Amongst the various story lines you’re following, what was Kiffin’s stool like this morning? Soft? Hard? When’s the last time he filled his gas tank?

You’re the leading edge. Keep surfing that wave and making us proud!!

pactenman

of course this issue won’t be resolved soon. Say good bye to any of the 3rd year guys who are even close to the fence, and watch all the verbal commits find somewhere else to go. Can’t blame them.

steveg

Don’t give up just yet, we still have nothing but an allegation.

gotroy22

Yes this guy could be a nutcase for all we know. That’s what is difficult with LOI day coming up in less than 2 months to wait this out.

SaferInWestwood

The man has bank records, he also received payments in the WAS football office, who would’ve thought a track coach would leave a trace, HA!

jetman624

Bank records only hurt if Lupoi was stupid enough to write a check. Cash is cash and its one person’s word against the other.

LTEfan

It’s called circumstantial evidence. Add up enough of it and there can be a reasonable determination of guilt. The bank records reportedly show the high school coach deposited $3,000 cash and immediately paid that amount (or $2,999) to Kaplan test preparation service. Why would a high school coach pay for that for a kid who is not his son or relative? If true, that could be a very bad fact for Lupoi, regardless of cash or check.

jetman624

And how does any of what you said add any validity to WHO is being named as payer of the money?

LTEfan

Yes, I understand your point. Ultimately, the investigators will have to make a determination of the high school coach’s credibility, in part based on how much verifiable detail he can provide of all of his meetings with Lupoi. But if they find him credible and the rest of his story lines up, they could find against Lupoi even without there being a check or a video or a wiretapped conversation. This isn’t a criminal case.

gotroy22

If they have witnesses that they met, pictures, social media,phone records etc.

jetman624

If this, if that…

Please– all they have right now is an accusation and “bank records” of what is likely a cash deposit

gotroy22

Correct, that’s why they do an investigation to see if there is anything to this.

Scott

If they look at Tupoi’s accounts and see a withdrawal in a similar amount a day or two prior to Davis showing the deposit….although circumstantial, that’s pretty damning.

The only way it’s not is if Tupoi has a regular history of withdrawing similar amounts regularly (which is very unlikely). Why would he? That’s a whole other question.

But assuming that he made a withdrawal like this, and assuming it’s not part of a regular pattern, then it becomes a little more than one word against another.

Aw…look my stalker is here! Do I have to pwn you again? See, illiterate is also used in everyday speech to mean someone who is ignorant (like yourself). Some would call this functioning illiteracy, others call it retardation (both of which would apply to you since you have seem to have a problem with the two major Cs: cognitive functions and comprehension).

All I ever see you do is follow me around name-calling, because you have nothing else. Sadface.

But really, what we need to talk about is your obsession with USC football and your constant racism. What do you have against minorities? Have you attempted that therapy I asked you about?

Did you ever go to college? Lulz. Let me guess: UCLA is where you learned to be an avowed racist.

For those interested, Scottie took this from the presser with Sark that can be found on USCAthletics YT page:

Sarkisian: “I think, first and foremost, the allegations at Washington are what they are – they are allegations, so I can’t really speak on anything further than that. What I will say is, which I touched on with Gary, that my time with the University of Washington I did everything in my power to promote a compliant atmosphere and that won’t change here at USC. It will be daily and that’s not just with our coaches and our players. That’s with our administration, that’s with our donors, that’s with our boosters – everybody that has the potential to touch our players. And that’s my job on a daily basis and I will continue to do everything in my power to promote that atmosphere.”

Reporter: “Are you concerned, Steve, that if those allegations prove true, that under the new NCAA guidelines that could come back and have you subject to penalty?”

Sarkisian: “I don’t know if concerned is the right word. You know, I know what I did on a daily basis and I know the environment that I promoted there every single day that I went to work there. If and/or when the NCAA wants to talk to me I’ll feel confident in my ability to show, factually, the ability that I exhibited to promote that atmosphere. So, I don’t if concern is the right word, but I will be prepared.”

Lajollaboy

Thanks for posting this detailed information. It is way more than Scott put on his blog and helps us to understand things better.

FightON

Scott doesn’t put things in context, unfortunately.

TDOG

Hey Mr SC Alumni – Aren’t you going to apologize for basically calling me a liar about Lucas receiving a degree in ’94? Never heard a response from you.. what gives?

FightON

You claimed both earned degrees (graduated, rather). Not true. Apparently no one has explained to you the difference between being honored with a meaningless piece of paper versus graduating after EARNING a degree. Why you conflate the two is anyone’s guess.

Now, rah rah, explain to me why you don’t have a life? Did la familia figure put you’re one of the crazies that slipped passed admissions? (We have several of those).

TDOG

An Honorary Degree a meaningless piece of paper? You are obviously dumb – you are right, you are absolutely not worth my time.

FightON

Aw…you mad, bro? Sniffle, sniffle.

You should be because you got called out big time. What kind of idiot thinks that Spielberg and Lucas are in their graduating class? LULZ.

There is a vast different between: heyyy I was honored and they gave me a piece of paper versus heyyy I completed a degree program.

But, really, what kind of an idiot thinks an honorary degree means anything? Seriously, what do you think that means?

I knew USC admissions stats were more lax back then, but how did you get in?

TDOG

Bottom line is you are dumb – you suggested only Speilberg got an Honorary in 94 when both he and Lucas did. You shouldn’t rely on Wikipedia for all your research, you obvioulsy didn’t go to college. Sad that posers like you exist, but oh well.

WEB_Dupree

What on earth are you two arguing about?

TDOG

It’s not worth your time, trust me – but as quick rehash; I said Spielberg and Lucas were “in my graduating class” which is true – they were both given honorary degrees at the ’94 graduation ceremony which makes them in “the graduating class”, and this tool called me a liar and said that only Spielberg got an honorary in 94 and Lucas got his in the “late 60′s” (both untrue statements) I corrected him, he then called me an “idiot” and said that an Honorary Degree is a “worthless piece of paper” which indicates to me that he is a fraud, and is not a “USC Alumni” like his avatar suggests. I am just frustrated, I hate Kiffin, I hate Sarkiffin, I hate Pat Haden now, and I want Coach O back. I am tired of being surrounded by phonies and liars when it comes to this football program.

WEB_Dupree

I recall seeing pictures of the two of them at that ceremony; I was a freshman in the film school in the fall of 1994, a few months later, so the school was eager to show off those photos in those days. I remember that we were all so jazzed about going to class in a building named after George Lucas; it was pretty surreal. Nowadays, since they built that new cinema school building, the old Lucas building isn’t even there anymore; it’s just a patch of grass — kind of sad for those of us who spent so much time in that building.

This Sark mess is looking pretty sad, too.

TDOG

Lots of love to you and your Family for the holidays – hope good things start happening for our beloved SC Football program real soon

FightON

I’m loving your posts because you are digging in how dumb you actually are.

I’m not a man, first of all. Get it right if you’re going to smack talk.

If I find an extra chromosome, I’ll be sure to give it to you. I’ll be sure to give you a tissue for all your “Poor Orgeron” sniffle sniffles too.

FightON

TDOG is all mad that he is an idiot and actually believes Lucas and Spielberg count as a part of his graduating class.

FightON

LULZ. That degree on my wall proves otherwise. But you can believe what you want.

Hey, I’ll extend to you the same offer I give all the trolls. My house needs to be cleaned and I’m offering your children the chance to do it for a nickel an hour. It’s a bargain because it’s five more pennies than they are worth. Yippee!

steveg

USC is not meeting with NCAA today according to OC Register.

Same thing just happend to Saban, they didn’t do anything to him.

FightON

Saban’s shaft is embedded in the NCAA. They are not going to touch that man until at least a few more years.

drakejr

The only suspect thing about Sark in this story is that he claimed to not know what was going on. If he didn’t know, you could be damned sure that Tosh would have come with him to USC.

But so far, there is no reason to believe Sark has anything to do with the infraction.

FightON

Tosh WAS going to come with Sark to USC. This was when things were discovered.

Mike 70

Sark is like Obama, “I didn’t know NSA was spying on people, you can keep your insurance”…same BS.

Isaiahdolan

They are not the words of someone who is stating he is 100% innocent, are they?

Helen

In a typical Scottie fashion, he places Haden’s weeks-old quote at the end of the story to make the reader think this is Haden’s response to the Lupoi controversy:

“I could be completely wrong,” Haden said of the hire. “We’ll find out.”

gotroy22

Weeks old quote? Was he referring to who was going to win the lottery? Who was going to be Time Magazine Person of the Year?

FightON

Scott retweeted Geoff Baker from the Seattle Times last night: apparently Andrew Basham’s mom texted Baker to say that Andrew’s tutoring was paid with her credit card and Lupoi was not involved.

TrojanFan3.0

Interesting!!!!!
Thanks for the info!

FightON

I just read through the LA Times article for a second time on this. If you haven’t read it, there are a ton more details.

It gets more interesting: the father is claiming the payments were made on another relative’s credit card. He refused to answer whether or not he was refunded. Two different stories given to two different reporters.

TDOG

Bottom line is this – Tupoi is a scumbag cheater tool that told his players to fake injury (fact#1), Sark showed himself to be an equal tool in that he hired that tool, and then upped his ante and showed himself to be even a greater tool by accusing David Shaw of directing players to fake injuries! Now this… Haden is now officially the “idiot” he imagined by bypassing Coach O, and in a very big way. I am deeply saddened by all of this, I hope this is sorted out immediately or Haden should step aside and let somebody like Marcus Allen take charge.

B.Miller

I really think the media is hyping this story up way to much, and I doubt Sarkisian has anything to worry about, but just based on the fact that USC can not get out of its own way when it comes to the NCAA.. IS FREAKING ANNOYING!

THAT BEING SAID…. CHARLIE STRONG! and Im out!

TrojanFan3.0

I hope you are correct!

gotroy22

I thouight the rah rahs said Charlie Strong was a “pathetic” choice only a few days ago?

B.Miller

you are on here more than any “Rah Rah”.. I would think you were a die hard USC fan with all the back ground you know on them

https://www.facebook.com/charles.bucket.3 Charlie Bucket

amusing how the trOXans posit that a paper check is required to crack this case!! OJ Mayo was paid in cash, no? there are phone records, witnesses, bank records, timelines, and most importantly: MOTIVE!!

what would this track coach gain by making this up? everything adds up, once the investigators breaks it down, it’s a matter of whether Lupoi flips or on Sarkdasian or not.

but recall, even though McNair did not flip on Petey, the NCAA had so much circumstantial evidence they hammered Southern Cal anyway!!

because of the Southen Cal connection here (hiriing Sarkdasian) they will again bring out the hammer if they get even a WHIFF of Sark’s involvement!!!

jetman624

You keep dreemin for all that non-sense to come true– god knows you guys need all the help you can get keeping the Trojans down…

TrojanFan3.0

He wants to be a Trojan fan, but the conscience says don’t do it. It could also be Dementia related

https://www.facebook.com/charles.bucket.3 Charlie Bucket

you forget the Cadre was spawned by the Bush-McNair Investigation by NCAA!!!
you trOXans said all along you would skate while the Cadre lobbied the entire time, sending Missy Conboy excerpts from this blog!!!!
and the CADRE has dominated this blog ever since!!! a rag-tag bunch of rebels are now Cadre INC. with offices in LA, New York, London and the Rishi Maze!! our Executive Council can have people “dissapeared” with one phone call.
BEHOLD! the power of the CADRE!!

FMUSC81

HEY BUCKET !!!! not one hammer will fall on USC program ….maybe , and maybe a coach .. not the program jackwagon….As comical as it sounds …All Sark has to prove is he promoted A compliance environment…. so If UW gave any “educational meetings on compliance” like all university do it than HC is off the hook… like Saban was when his S&C coach gave a loan to a player… Lupoi would have to show Sark had direct knowledge of the payments…. if so than Sark would be screwed …. Nothing will happen to USC program we simply let him go and hire another coach.

https://www.facebook.com/charles.bucket.3 Charlie Bucket

i agree, mostly with what you said, i know the NCAA wont saction SOuthern Cal,i was just referring to the fact they will santcion Sark more forcefully and since hadden will have to fire him it makes Haddes look ever more foolish on top of this long list of screw ups!!!

FMUSC81

No Haden has mad some trip ups.. like all AD… but come on …Guerrero is the biggest donkey of them all… Steve Alford ? a guy who tired to cover up a Rape for one of his players… and said … ” I was just following orders ” …. your own blogs call me “TRA” Mora and savage are the only thing keeping Guerrero on board, because he has no care in the world for your crown jewel , which is the Basketball team.. why?? …i don’t understand and most of Westwood doesn’t either.

Scott

Re: attached Wolf full story:

Photo caption should read “alleged recruiting violation”.

Haden statement out of context, was discussing whether Sarkesian will turn out to be the best football coach for USC vs. guys like Petersen and Franklin, had nothing to do with this story. Out of context insertion in this article could be interpreted to mean that this allegation existed at the time of hire.

Wolf left out the recent statement from the family that they paid for the tutoring, not Davis.

Relative to Haden “vetting” Sarkesian: there was no way that anyone, that’s anyone, could have known about this until Davis raised his hand and alleged that it happened. So any “vetting” naturally would not uncover something like this. The only way it could have come up is if Lupoi was routinely doing this with many or all recruits, in which case, in theory, the head coach knew or should have known. That has not been asserted here.

Obviously, if it comes out that Sarkesian knew about this kind of violation, he will be terminated. It will be interesting to see how the truth emerges, but it seems too early to come to any conclusions.

FightON

Thanks for posting all of this info.

Wolf regularly takes issues out of context. He picked apart Sarkisian’s words and did not include the context of Sarkisian’s “concern” comments (it was in response to a reporter). Wolf cannot claim ignorance – he left out his own retweet of the family’s rebuttal too.

Still, you’re right – no amount of vetting could have uncovered Lupoi because the vetting of Sark’s hire was focused on Sark. Lupoi was secondary when Sark wanted him to transfer, but still, the tip was what set USC compliance off. I’m wondering if that’s why the hiring process seemed to slow. USC is probably very cautious regarding all other candidates.

http://www.johnhaden.com john haden

Probably the most logical post I’ve read on this topic.

BruinAZ

Sark – concerned is not a good word because “freakin out – pissing my pants” is actually a term that expresses how I feel now.

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